Safety appliance for submarine vessels.



J. s. FRASER. SAFETY APPLIANCE FOR SUBMARINE VESSELS.

APPLCATION FILED JUNE I7, 1914- Patented May 11, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

' J. s. FRASER. SAFETY APPLIANCE FOR SUBMARINE VESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7| I914- 1,139,409, Patented May 11, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

KRAAAHWW MIA . To all whom it may concern:

JAMES S ERASEE OF BOSTONhMASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF MOULTOEJ, F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PATENT orri.

Toma o.

SAFETY APPLIANCE FOR SUBMARINE VESSELS.

, Application filed June 17, 1914. Serial No. 845,598.

Be it known that 1, JAMES S. FRASER, a citizen of the United States; and resident of Boston, in the county of Sufiolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Appliances for Submarine Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to enable the occupants of a submarine ves'selto send a ventilating tube or air conduit to the surface of a body of water in which the vessel.

may be submerged, so that in case the vessel Specification of' Letters Patent.

is unable to rise, the occupants may obtain a air from above and may also indicate to rescuersthe location of the vessel.

The invention consists in the improvements which l". will now proceed to describe and claim. I

()i the accompanying drawings forming a part. of this specification; Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a portion of a subrnerged submarine vessel, equipped with a safety appliance embodying my invention; Fig. 2 represents a section on line 2+2 of a portion of-Fig.. 2; Fig. 4 represents a top plan View or the portion shown by Fig. 3;

'Fig. 5 represents a fragmentary sectional View showing the inflatabldloag and its socket member, hereinafter referred to, in a fully expanded condition Fig. 6 represents a top plan view of the part termed the stopper; Fig. '2' represents a sectional "view of a part of the deck of the vessel andthe safety attachment stored in compact form therein, and not my use; Fig. 7? represents a section on line i -7* of ig. 7 Fig. 8 represents a side view of. portions. of the ramp tacle and its cover shownbyFig: 7; Fig."

9 represents a section on line 9-4) of Figs.-

7 and 8; Fig. l Greprcsents ayiewsimilar to Fig. 1.

The same reference characters indicate f the some or similar parts in all the views.

Said tube is attached at its inner end portion to the vessel and is of suitable length to enable its outer end to be projectedv above the surface of a b'cdyot water on thebottoln' .Fig. 9, showing a releasing position; Fig- 11 represents a section on l ne 11-41 of 26" w'iththe air tanklS. The tubes 216 nay be provided with valves 27', and when these Patented M ii, 1915.

of which the vessel may rest. I have pr0-' vided means controlled from within the vessel for projecting the tube upwardly tight construction, said bag being connected with the'outer end of the tube 13, and an elongated collapsible inflating tube 16 conne'cted at one end with the bag l5-and at lts, other end with the vessel, theiinfiating tube inclosing the ventilating tube and being enough-larger than thelatter to form an air space "between the two tubes whenthe inflating tube is distended or internally supported by air. v The inner end of the inflating tube seennectcd with means within the vessel for su plying air under pressure, such as -a tank lb containing compressed air. -.As here shown the inner end of the inflating tube is at tached to a rigid collar 20 having an inter nally threaded'dlange 21 'whichisscrewed upon a threaded nipple 22 extending through thedeck l2'i nd'havifng a screw-thread engagement therewith. '23 is a nutscrewedv upon the nipple'122 and bearing on the upper surface of the deck. 1 Said nut supports the flange 21 which actsas a lock nut. 24 is a nut screwed upon the ni ple22 and bearing o'n'jthe underside of the deck. 25 is a screw threaded cap or flange corresponding in form t'jthe flange 21 and screwed on the inner end of the nipple 22 and against the nut" 24:, jtheflange 25 also constituting .a'lock-nut.- .fI-hecap' 25 is connected by one orinore tubes;

til

valves are opened there isa direct communi;

cation be con the tank 18 andthe inflatingn tube'fl'bt rough the nipple 22. The inner end portion of the ventilating tube extends through the nipple, 22 and, is held infia central position therein by cars 28'(Fig. 7?) on the collar 20, said ears being separated by air spaces 29 which permit air to pass from ice the nipple 22 into the inflating tube? Y The jlventilating tube 1'3'is' constructed to resist external pressure so that it'will not bs collapsed by. pressure of water against it sa d who bei g P eferably com q d 1.16"

either wholly or in part of a helically Wound metal strip or strips forming a flexible noncollapsible metal tube of well known construe tio nm The outer end of the tube 13 has an enlargement 13 forming a chamber into which a stopper 30 is adapted to swing inwardly by gravity from the position shown by Figs. 2 and to that shown by Fig. 5, the stopper being connected by a hinge 31 with the enlargement 13. The stopper and the enlargen'ient 13 are preferably of rectangular form, the stopper being provided with a beveled margin adapted to close against a beveled seat 32 formed on the interior of the enlargement l3".

The object of the stopper is to prevent entrance of water into the ventilating tube when the latter is submerged and while it is rising to the surface. The stopper is held or confined in its closed position by a circular stud member 33 formed on the outer side of the stopper and having a grooved periphery and an expansible socket member composed of a lip Ell forming a part of the and. stored within the coils.

bag 15 and a circular helical spring 35 inclosed in said lip and adapted to contract the lip and cause it to engage the grooved peri 'ihery ol. the stud member 2-53 as indicated by Figs. 23 and 4. It will be seen therefore that while the lip 3t is in its normal contracted position it forms a socket or coupling member which engages thestud'member 33 and prevents the latter andthe stopper 250 from swinging inwardly, and that when said socket is expanded it releases the stopper, which thereupon opens by gravity.

356 represents a flexible diaphragm attached at one edge, to the outer end of the tube 125 and to a tubular shank 13" formed on the enlargement l3, and at its-opposite end to the bag 15 near the lip All. ba.id

diaphragm is o l annular form and is adapted to prevent water from entering the main portion ol the bag 15 when the stopper 30 is opened as shown by Fig. 5.

' The bag in may be composed of inner and outer layers ol flexible waterproof textile 'l'abric. said layers being separated t'romeach other, and an intermediate lilli-ng 15 of buoyant'material such as ground cork. The bag is therefore inlusrently buoyant and .is adapted to rise to the surface when liberated whetl'ir-r inllated or not.

hen the device is not in use the bag and the tubes 13 and 115 are stored in compact form on the deck in a receptacle 37 attached to the deck, said receptacle having a buoyant cover 35 adapted to be released to liberate the bag and tubes as hereinafter described. \Vhen the ban" and tubes are thus stored, the tubes are disposed in coils, as indicated by Fig. 7, the bag being; collapsed The tubes 16 are partially flattened or collapsed when thus stored, so that the tubes 13 and 16 may be stored in a receptacle of minimum hei ht. 1.

he' cover 38, which may be composed of spaced-apart layers of fabric and an intermediate filling 38 of ground cork is provided with a flexible flange l0, which is preferablyan extension ofone of the fabric layers and is adapted to be pressed closely against the exterior of the receptacle 37.

atl represents ametal band having over lapping ends, as indicated by Figs. 9 and 10. To one of said ends is pivoted at 42 a. leverlS having an ear 4: adapted to engage the opposite end of the band. 4-5 represents a bolt passing loosely through one arm of the lever- ,4:3 and through orifices formed. in the band through the flange -10 and through the wall of the receptacle 37. Said bolt has an or fice at its inner end adapted to receive a locking pin 46, which is movable in guides t? within the receptacle 37. Said pin passes nected at its lower end with a lever 48 pivoted at +5) Within the vessel. When the lever 48 is depressed from the position shown by Fig. 7 it withdraws the pin 4-6 from the bolt 45. The band 41 is sulficiently resilient to normally spring open or expand, as indicated by Fig. 10, and does so expand when the bolt l5 is released. The expansion of the band causes the ends of the band and lever 4:3 and the bolt 45 to assume the positions'shown by Fig. 10, the cover flange 40 being thus released and caused by its own buoyancy to rise in the water and liberate the bag and tubes. The lever 43, when moved from the position shown by Fig. 10 to that shown by Fig. 9, acts to close the band and cause it to clamp the flange l0 against the receptacle. The operation of the appliance is as folloWs: Assuming that the vessel is submerged and resting on the bottom 7) and is unable to rise an operator within the vessel connects the air tank 18 with" the inflating tube 15 and moves the lever 48 to release the cover 38 ot the receptacle 3?. The inflation-of the bag 15 and its inherent buoyancyioauses it to rise quickly from the receptacle and uncoil the tubes until the bag reaches the surface and projects above the same, as indicated by Figs. 1 and 2, the stopper 30 remaining closed and preventing water from entering. The air pressure that accumulates in the bag up to the time that it reaches the surface oi the water is not suflicient to eX- pand the lip or socket 3- in increase of surface causes a further expansion of the bag and an enlargement of the socket ill, as indicated by Fig 5, the stopper 33 being thus released and permitted to swing by gravity into the enlargement 13% Free communication is thus established between the interior of the vessel and the atmosphere the air pressure after the bag reaches the through the ventilating tube 13, suiiicient air being admitted to the vessel through said tube to sustain the lives of the people n the vessel. At thes'ame time'the bag .5 constrtutes an indicator enabling rescuers to '10- cate the submerged vessel- The bag may be provided with one or more electric lamps 50 suitably connected through the tubes with a source of electrical energy within the vessol. Wires 51 .may be conducted through 'the tubes and bag" to the interior of the bag to be connected by a rescuing party with a I,

telephonic apparatus whereby conversation may be carried on between =the rescuing party and the occupants of the vessel.

The deck 12 may be provided with a nipple (Fig. 11)closed at its outer end by. an externally removable outer cap and at its inner end by an internally removable inner cap 5%, nuts and, 56 beingint'erposed between said caps and the deck. The

cap 54 maybe provided with a hollow extension 57 which practically fills the interior ofthe Tnipple The object of the conslruct-ion last described is toenable communication to be established between the exterior and interior of the vessel through the nipple 52 by a diver who may descend to the vessel with a tube,.or. with a vven'ti lating tube and an inflating tube, connected as shown with an internally threaded collar 21 adapted to be screwed onto the upper end of the nipple 52. The diver removes the cap 53 and substitutes the collarZl therefor. Afterthis, the cap 54 may be removed by the occupants of the vessel and replaced by a collar 25 to establish communication be- 7 tween the interior )f t hevessel and the Veiltilating and inflatihg Tft'ub'es; The object of the extension 57 which is removed with the cap 5% is to reduce to the minimum the quantity of water admitted tothe nipple 52 when the outer cap is reni'oved, and consequently' the quantity of water entering the vessel when the inner cap is removed.

The inner capbl may be a closed cap, as,

indicated by full lines ,(Fig. 11), or it may be constructed like the cap-25 (Fig. 7), and provided with nipplesf58 as shown by dotted lines, for connection with suitable air pipes, so that air maybe forced outwardly into the inflatingtube',;;or drawn inwardly through the ventilzi'tingitube.

"Theinner end of 'theiventilating tube 13" may be coupled to a pipe 60 within the vessel, 1 said pipe being connected with the intake of a suction fan 61 adapted to draw air through the ventilating tube into the vessel. The inwardly opening stopper opened as described by gravity cannot be fclosed by air rushing downwardly into the ventilating tube, such 2111" having a tendency to 'hold the cover from swinging toward its closed position.

i Having described my invention, I claim:

'- i -The combination with a submarine vessel, of an elongated flexible-ventilating tube secured to the hull of the vessel and com municating with the interior thereof, means controlled from within the vessel'zt'or raising the outer end of said tube to the surface of a body of water in which the vessel may'be submerged, an inwardly opening,

water-excluding stopper at the-outer endoi the ventilating tube adapted to be opened by. gravity, means for confining the stopper lll' its closed positiomand ,means controlled from within the vessel for releasing the stopper and permitting it to open by gravity and admit air to the tube,

2. The combination with a submarine vessel, of an elongated flexible noncollapsible ventilatingvtube secured to the hull of the vessel and communicating with the interior thereof, an inherently buoyant, collapsible inflatable bag secured to the outer end por- 't'ion of the ventilating tube, a collapsible 3, The combination with a submarine VGS- sel, of an elongated flexible non-collapsible ventilating tube secured to the hull of the vessel and communicatingwith the interior thereof, an inherently buoyant/ collapsible inflatable bag secured ,to the outer end portion of the ventilating tube, a collapsible bag-inflating tube inclosing-the ventilating tube and extending from the bag to the vessel, means withinthearessel for inflating the bag through the'infiating tube, a stopper tea the

adapted ,to exclude water from the ventilating tube, means'controlled from. Within the vessel for opening said stopper to permit air to pass through the ventilatin tube, confining means for holdi'ngthe said be and tubes stored compactly on the deck 0 the vessel when the bag and inflating tube are -collapsed, and means controlled from within the vessel forrendering said confining means inoperative, and liberating the bag and tubes. I

The combination with a submarine vessel, of an elongated flexible non-collapsible its ventilating tube secured to the hull of the vessel and communicating with'the interior thereof, an inflatable bag secured to the outer end. portion of the ventilating tube,

' a collapsible bag-inflating tube inclosing the aaia ventilating tube and extending from the bag to the vessel, means Within the vessel for inflating the bag through the inflating tube, a stopper adapted to exclude water from theventilating tube, means controlled from within the vessel for opening said stopper to permit air to pass through the ill ventilating tube, a holder on the deck of the vessel for compactly storing said bag and tubes when the bag and inflating tube are collapsed, said holder having a buoyant cover and cover-securing means, and means controlled from within the vessel for rendering the cover-securing means inoperative and thus releasing and permitting the flota tion of said cover and liberating the bag and tubes.

The combination with a submarine vessel, of an elongated flexible ventilating tube secured to .the hull of the vessel and communicating vith the interior thereof, an inflatable bag secured to the outer end portion ct the-ventilating tube, a bag-inflating tube extending from the bag to the vessel, means within the vessel for inflating the bag through the inflating tube, a stopper hinged in the outer end of the ventilating tube and adapted to swing inwardly, said stopper having a circular outwardly projecting stud u'iember, an expansiblc socket member on the bag having a spring whereby it is noru'mllv closed on the stud member to hold the stopper closed, said socket member being expansible to release the stopper by a predetermined expansion of thebag, and a flex- .ible water excluding diaphragm arranged to prevent the entrance of water into the bag through the opening surrounded by said socket member.

The combination with a submarine vessel, of an elongated flexible ventilating tube sr-curecl to the hull of the vessel and cominu'iicating with the interior thereof, an iniiatable bag secured to the outer end portion of the ventilating tube, a bag-inflating tube extending from the bag to the vessel, means within the vessel for inflating the bag through the inflating tube, a stopper adapted to exclude water from the ventilating tube, means controlled from within the vessel. for opening said stopper to permit air to pass through the ventilating tube, a holder on the deck of the vessel for compactly storing said bag and tubes, said holder having a buoyant hover provided with a flexible. iiai'igc embracing the mouth of the receptacle, a clamping hand embracing said iiauge and adapted to normally expand and relcasethe flange, lever pivoted'to one 5nd of the band and having an ear adapted to engage the opposite end ol the band, a sliding bolt carried by said lever and extending through the band, the flange. and the wall of the receptacle, a locking pin movable in guides within the receptacle and detachably engaging said bolt, the band being held in clamping engagement with the flange by said pin, bolt and lever, and released by the withdrawal of the pin from the bolt, and means within the vessel for Withdrawing the pin from the bolt.

7. The combination with a submarine vessel, of an elongated flexible ventilating tube secured to the hull ofthe vessel and communicating with the interior thereof, means controlled from within the vessel for raising the outer end of said tube to the surface of a body of water in which the vessel may be submerged, an inwardly opening, water-exeluding stopper at the outer end of the ventilating tube adapted to'be opened by gravity, and means for drawing air into the vessel through said tube, the entering air having a tendency to hold the stopper in its open position. I

8. The combination with a submarine vesmeans controlled from within the vessel for.

releasing the stopper and permitting it to open and admit air to the tube.

9. The combination with a submarine vessel having an opening in its deck, of an externally threaded nipple extending through said opening and projecting above and below the deck, outer and inner nuts engaged with said nipple and bearing respectively on the upper and lower surfaces of the deck,

an "internally threaded outer cap detachably coupled to the outer end of thenipple and bearing on the outer nut, and an internally threaded inner cap detachably coupled to the inner end of the nipple and bearing on the inner nut.

Tn testimbny whereof I have ailixed my signature in. presence of two witnesses.

JAMES S. FRASER. \Vitnesses:

(3. F. BROWN, In. (J. Mom/row. 

